Twin rallies choke traffic

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who opposes holding meetings and processions on a weekday, seems to have made an exception for her party.

TNN | Updated: Aug 29, 2012, 04:36 IST

KOLKATA: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who opposes holding meetings and processions on a weekday, seems to have made an exception for her party. As thousands of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad supporters headed for Mayo Road to hear the party leaders on Tuesday, traffic was reduced to a crawl in parts of south and central Kolkata.

Moreover, private buses were also pulled off the roads to ferry party supporters to the venue. The vice-president of Bengal Bus Syndicate, Deepak Sarkar, said: "Nearly 1,000 of the 5,000 buses were hired for today's meeting. The shortage was felt more by commuters in the suburbs than in the city."

This union is headed by Trinamool MLA Swarna Kamal Saha. Members of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates said that 15% of the total 6,500 buses registered under their union were taken off the roads. "There is already a dearth of buses in Kolkata. It hit a new low on Tuesday," rued Tapan Banerjee, joint-secretary of the syndicate.

Unlike the TMCP, the meeting of the Congress-led Chhatra Parishad was held indoors at Mahajati Sadan. But the rows of vehicles parked between Girish Park and MG Road along CA Avenue, left little space for traffic. The back-to-back rallies also had its share of skirmishes between rival supporters. However, no formal complaints were lodged.

Police said the Trinamool supporters arrived at Mayo Road from four major points - Hazra, Shyambazar, Sealdah and Howrah station. "Traffic never came to a complete halt. Only when the processions passed a particular road that traffic was closed on that stretch," said DCP (Traffic) Dilip Adak.

more from times of india Cities

All Comments ()+^ Back to Top

Characters Remaining: 3000

Continue without login

or

Login from existing account

FacebookGoogleEmail

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.